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Population Explosion In India

Is India over-populated? A critical examination of the present population policy.

POPULATION EXPLOSION

Hindu devotees try to board a crowded passenger train to take part in the “Guru Purnima” festival in Goverdhan town near the northern Indian city of Mathura July 5, 2009. REUTERS/K. K. Arora (INDIA TRANSPORT SOCIETY RELIGION)

The fastest rise in the population of India was during the period of 1951 to 1981, in which the population was from 36 crores in 1951 was reached around to 70 crores in 1981. During this period of 30 years, population increased around 34 crores, which is the fastest rise in the history of population statistics. Death rate has become controlled due to modern health and medical facilities and it has reduced to become 15 persons per thousand whereas; birth rate has not got any significant reduction. That is why; this period from 1951 to 1981 is known in India as the period of Population Explosion.

Population Explosion And Economic Development

Ordinarily, with an increase in population, production also increases and the number of those people also increases, among whom the total increase in production is distributed. Thus, the ultimate effect of increase in population on the level of production per head, would be indifferent or negative. This would depend on the form of increase in population and its directions. If the increase is in the number of dependents, then in place of production, consumers would increase and ultimately the effect on per head production would be adverse. On the contrary, in case of favorable age constitution of the population, its effect on the economic development would be better.

EFFECTS OF THE INCREASING POPULATION IN INDIA ON ITS ECONOMIC GROWTH

The explosive increase in population in India has adversely affected the economic development and economy, which is clear from the following facts

Lower Growth Rate

Due to the increasing population, the rate of development has been slow. Whereas; the growth rate of Japan during the previous 10 years has been 15%, while the average growth rate of India has been 4% only.

Widespread Poverty

Due to heavy population the benefit of economic development is almost nil in the country. Though during the last 30 years there has been an increase of 15% in the national income, still the per ca-pita income has increased ‘50% only. About 50% of the population of the country is below the poverty line. Read about Problem of Poverty in India

High Prices

Due to higher population we find scarcity everywhere and due to scarcity, the prices are heading towards an increase. The country has scarcity of food-grains, scarcity of employment, scarcity of essentials, scarcity of houses, scarcity of oil etc..

Excess Burden on the Economy

The 1.5 crore of increase in the population each year is increasing the burden on the Indian economy.

Problems in Industrialization

Our country has poverty and unemployment only due to higher population. The level of savings and investments is lower and mechanization is discouraged due to excess human resources. The small and cottage industries are primary. Due to all these reasons rapid industrialization has not become possible. The slow pace of capital formation is also a hurdle in industrialization in India.

Expenditure on Population Control

The explosive increase in population in India has forced expenditure of crores of rupees on population control under planned development. These resources would otherwise have been used in the economic development of the country and the standard of living would have improved.

Problem of Unemployment

The means of employment do not increase at the same rate as the increase in population, as a result the existing problem of unemployment becomes more dreadful. This is the reason for continuous increase in unemployment in India. At the beginning of the first plan, the numbers of unemployed were 35 millions which increased to 26 crores in 2010.

Shortage of Food-gains

Due to the rapid increase in population, to fulfill the requirements of the population since several years, millions of tons of food-grains has to be imported. This has adversely affected the foreign trade.

Problem of the Increasing Number of Dependents

Rapid increase in population increases the burden of number of dependents. According to the 1961 census 47.3% of the population was dependent which increased today to 71.1%.

Problem of Capital Formation

The increase in income due to the economic development is expended in catering to the needs of the increased population, as a result capital formation cannot be increased and investment rate remains lower.

Hinders the Growth of Agriculture and Industry

Increasing population hinders the quick development of agriculture.
It has two reasons

Subdivision of land reduces the area of land per person

The burden of population on agriculture increases.

Similarly, the increasing population hinders the growth of industry also. Rapid increase in population decreases the savings and investment rates. During lack of capital, the pace of industrial development is slow.

Increase In the Burden of Public Utility Services

For the rapid increase in population, the government has to incur more on housing, education, health, welfare, law and order and security. Thus, funds for development work fall short.